Former Irving Mayor, Robert H. Power, passed away on February 1, 2016.
According to his obituary, Power was born in McCool, Mississippi, and moved as a young man to Texas, where he was embraced by a community of supportive friends in Irving and began compiling a legacy of accomplishments. After graduating from North Texas State University and Southern Methodist University School of Law in 1958, he served as Assistant District Attorney for Dallas County and then established a private law practice in Irving where he continued to work into his late seventies. His extensive record of community service, with his calm demeanor and wise counsel benefitting so many governing bodies and advisory boards, resulted in numerous progressive improvements in North Texas.
Over the years he served as City Councilman and then Mayor of Irving from 1963 to 1971, Trustee of the Dallas County Community College District, Trustee of the University of Dallas, Director of North Central Texas Council of Governments, President of Dallas County League of Municipalities, founding Director of North Texas Commission, President of North Texas Regional Airport Committee, President of Irving Chamber of Commerce, President of Irving Bar Association, Director of Hope Cottage Children’s Bureau, Director of The American Bank of Irving and of Irving National Bank, Director of Irving Community Hospital, Director of Irving Preservation and Redevelopment Board, Vice President of Red River Valley Association, Director of Dallas Area Rapid Transit.
Close to his heart were non-profit agencies including his service as Chairman Western Star District Boy Scouts of America, and Dallas County Board of Advisors for the Salvation Army. He also served as an Elder and Chairman of Deacons for the First Presbyterian Church of Irving. For a number of years he was attorney for the Dallas Cowboys after having led the effort for passage of the bond election funding the construction of Texas Stadium.
In 1987 he and his wife Rebecca purchased ranch property in East Texas and founded Sundown Ranch, a residential drug and alcohol treatment center for adolescents and young adults, where his passion and hands-on involvement contributed greatly to its national recognition for success in helping over 7,300 youth to date overcome substance abuse.
Power was involved in some of Irving's major accomplishments such as the building of Texas Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, the development of DFW International Airport and the annexation of Bear Creek to Irving.
